So how did you guys like the joke chapter? I found it pretty awesome, it might have meant to go practically nowhere, but I found it a fun and curious write, I might explore some type of original version in the future. (maybe, though I do it out of my own curiosity)
Anyway, ha ha, Hiccup can sing, apparently, and I might try doing more on writing lyrics like that last chapter if they are original songs, covers I'll attempt to describe according to the original song. And hopefully I can at some point do these written songs when (and if) I go for trying to perform a few of them.
Now to the reviews:
NatBlake: Ha, Hiccup's got some things to figure out don't he, yeah in truth, Stoick isn't all that mean (he's just distracted), I'm going to out and say it, Hiccup has huge self-confidence issues, mostly only when related specifically to him. (at least that's how I was writing it) That's all I'll give you on it, I have plans to write the reasoning behind it later. (whatever you think is the reason on that, it probably is off)
Guest on Chapter 8: Thanks, I really wish you used an account so I could also PM you, but oh well. Anyway, thanks for those words of encouragement, I don't really know what to add to that. Thank you
Command Chandell 919 (Fake Chapter): Ha got ya, it was fun and think a good few people liked it, it was a cool part to do
Command Chandell 919: You're welcome, I love that I'm introducing someone to more rock, and while I sent you a pretty big list, I have even more I can recommend. I'll refrain for now as I'll probably start posting them up, stay tuned and keep on rocking (that might not show up, so it's suppose to be a sign of the horns)
One more thing, I am not writing in those phonetic ways (which pertains a bit more to this chapter), I hate them, and they honestly suck (in my opinion of course), the only reason I see to use them is to portray to an audience the inability to understand something. (I don't consider shortenings or understood slurs as the same thing by the way, stuff like "s'mday" is what I mean, and I don't get why you are trying to add useless difficulty to the reading if the same word could be described as " 'some day' he said in a heavily accented speech") I just feel it promotes bad literacy and reading practices and makes a writing look less intelligent unless it is used to portray the idea of hyper-difficult/impossible to understand to characters and readers alike.
So now that's over, let's get chapter seven then.
Chapter 7: Strange Runnins
Hiccup woke with a start, his father being a bit hard on him in the past few days for many reason. "Son get up, don't want ya to be late." He was mad at his dad, especially for his treatment for the past couple days. The case that happened being Astrid's father found out about Astrid going to Hiccup's within the school week, searching for answers when she was gone till Sunday. "Come on dad, can't you leave it to my clock." He complained, both knowing full well the personal alarm was unneeded. "Yeah, but I wanted to talk to you before you went off." His Scottish accent sticking the statement. "I know you care about Astrid and all, as she was over our house a lot recently, but you can't just bring your girlfriend..." The accent tried to continue but was cut there.
"Did I seriously just hear you right?" He asked with conviction. "On what son?" The man with the accent punctuated 'son.' "Did you just call Astrid my girlfriend? Seriously?" The son was getting upset. He didn't believe Stoick understood what was going on with her, or even why he actually cares, and which he was right to think. "She's just a friend I really care about, like Fishlegs." Stoick may not have known the whole situation, but he had suspicions however, which were just as close as Hiccup's, if more hidden. "Alright Henry, just avoid getting in trouble then." He nodded to his son and left the room, back to sleep for a few hours.
Astrid had been trying to avoid Hiccup all week. In her life, she had only one true fear, and that was the only reasoning she had done such. In the instances where she had to see him, she stayed as far away and tried to stay out of his radar. It failed miserably, after that weekend, everything had gone bad, so far. She was beat worse than usual, which left noticeable and visible marks. Her father also forbid her from most of her friends, forcing her to focus on her studies and stop with the band, also forcing her mother to agree. This specific punishment proved to leave more than just physical marks on her, and more than ever before.
On the Friday that followed all these events, Hiccup had enough, he was smart and suspected a lot of good guesses, but he knew that nothing was worth a friend, especially one like Astrid. He decided to walk up to her sulky, lonely form to talk to her. When he reached her at her locker, she was obviously in a horrible mood, it was starting to show even with her normally well made facade. He leaned against the adjacent locker to get her attention. "Astrid..." Care dripped heavily from his voice, sympathy and sadness too, not just from him though, but from Felix too. She didn't both looking over at him though. "Astrid, I just..." As Hiccup looked at her however, his eyes widened. "Did he hit you?" He asked, hissing in a whisper, causing Astrid to wince at the memory. "Just leave me be Henry." She was too upset to even use his nickname, or respond properly.
"Astrid, I only want to help," The auburn boy said before Astrid glanced at him before looking back down. "I really do want to help, and Felix too, though we understand you can't come over, but we do care. If you want to be left alone though, I get it, and Felix probably will too, but can you please tell me so." He pleaded to her. "I...don't want you guys to leave me alone...but my father...he doesn't want me around you...he..." She was starting to sob, luckily it was lunch again, so when Astrid closed her locker, Hiccup led her to a the nearby closet. "I don't want to waste your time again Hiccup." She hesitated. "Making sure you're alright is not a waste, and I know you're having a hard time handling yourself, better in a closet then in the open, right?" He opened the closet, making sure no one was around, and they sat down, Astrid again clutching Hiccup like she did weeks ago.
It took a few hours, though less than last time, before she released Hiccup, apologizing for using up his time. "Astrid, class doesn't matter to me if my friends are hurt, either way, I prefer comforting you to class anyhow." He held her shoulder, and prepared to lead her to study hall, their last class for that day when the period was to end in a minute. "Hiccup, what if they call and tell my father about my missed classes today? They did it last time, that's how he found out about you, me, and Felix, and probably why he hated you two. What if he finds out?" Hiccup and Astrid pondered this conundrum separately, even in study hall. Then the loudspeaker came on.
"Sorry for the interruption, would Tony and Rachel Thorsten report to the main office, Tony and Rachel Thorsten report to the main office?" Astrid was then distracted for a moment before Hiccup made a crack. "Bet its the graffiti finally, huh?" To which Astrid gave a weak laugh before suffering in more despair, but with Hiccup's help, her spirit's weren't anywhere as near to collapsing. Until she made it home.
The next day, where school wasn't a problem, was when Astrid finally decided to sneak out. She couldn't take being home, so she jumped her window using a rope, and as long as her room didn't warrant attention, which she made sure of, no one should notice. She then made the long walk to Hiccup's house to see if he was home, though she suspected he went to Felix's again. When no one answered, she made the thirty minute walk to Felix's and rang the bell, she didn't get why Hiccup never used it.
It took the guys inside some time before they realized the doorbell was ringing, to which Fishlegs responded walking up the stairs. "Hey Hiccup, why don't you ever use the bell?" Hiccup followed him up taking two steps at a time as Fish reached the door. "I prefer to knock, seems more personal to me is all." The door opened, revealing Astrid. "Astrid...?" They both squeked but Hiccup continued "What are you doing here?" Fish decided to add on. "Won't your dad be mad?"
She smirked at the boys in the house. "Not even gonna invite me in?" She mocked scoffed, the boys then responded by moving out her way, otherwise remaining stiff, before she responded. "My dad doesn't know, he probably won't notice me gone even. But either way, even if he hurts me, I rather be here." Felix opened his eyes a bit, he was more naive to Astrid, no one talked to him on it, but even he suspected her father beat her, that statement raised that bar.
Hiccup finally relaxed on her conclusion. "I would prefer if you wouldn't do something that risks you getting hurt..." Fish butt in. "I'd agree with that conclusion," which both of them glared at him in slight confusion for the interruption before Hiccup continued "...but we," He pointed to himself and Fish "Know nothing with stop you from jumping in. We still have your equipment downstairs, if you'd like to set up."
They practice hours, ending at eight, when Felix and Hiccup drove Astrid home. When they got to her house, her face shown angst Hiccup and Felix unfortunately started to expect from her on anything relating to her dad, and there was not much they could do. And they both knew it. So they had to let Astrid climb out of the car, and she ducked into her window with no one else seeming to notice, and she snuck into bed, suspecting her father knew nothing of the day.
The next Monday was better, she was able to convince her dad that the school track team was starting up, which she occasionally participated in, this year however she decided against it and instead thought of using her family's perfectionist image to slip away. He was reluctant, but agreed, and told him she was getting a ride and that is was late. She thought about why she didn't use that before, she knew her father never really cared about the sports, as long as it seemed she was doing perfect enough, he wouldn't care either, same with her grades. That practically meant if no one bugged him, he wouldn't care.
So she made it to school, and gone through her day a bit more relaxed than last week. But really interesting thing was the gossip, Astrid was pretty far up the chain on the popularity, at least in comparison to most other students, especially her bandmates. This time she heard gossip throughout her day about a party. She never cared, and the last time she bothered was when she was dating some random jerk, and normally those memories would piss her off, but fooling her dad to play when her band still left her on a type of high that couldn't take her down.
She reached study hall with Hiccup, and started talking about what she did. "I told my dad I have track, so as long as I'm back before the sun sets, I'm pretty sure he'll not care." She shrugged. "Alright, but if that doesn't stand, I don't think you'll have much choice in this. Felix and I just rather see you unharmed then force you to come to practice." Hiccup whispered to her. She shook her head. "I don't think it really matters anymore, he's...probably still going to do it even if I obey, he still gets drunk, and pissed without reason." She was being really cautious at pointing out her problems, so after one stutter, Hiccup could barely hear her. "Man, Astrid, you really make this situation hard, but I don't want to stop you, so if you can stay unharmed, I suppose I'll be fine, but I'm extremely reluctant." And Astrid just waved it off with a nod, she knew he and Fish cared, but she thought she had it all figured out.
After study hall, where Astrid once again tried to convince Hiccup to sing, they entered the hallway. Then Hiccup bumped into the mastery of scheming, or rather he smacked into the auburn teen. "Oh, my man Hiccup, good thing I hit ya." He wrapped an arm around the teen he 'hit', which confused the blond girl and Hiccup alike. "Party at Snot's, Friday, we could use your guys' talents, Snot's was shit, would ya, thanks." And proceeded to run away, the confused teens suspected he was about to also be caught for something, to which two staff members were running down the hall. "Wait, what?" Hiccup finally started to get what was going on while Astrid started pondering the idea. "Wait, hold on, what just happened?" Astrid knew a tiny bit more and responded to him. "Ohh, that makes sense," She started finally understanding the puzzle she was originally confused over. "There was a rumor going around, probably for two weeks now, I've only heard it the past week, but it was about a party, they were saying some really odd stuff, I think I heard your name and Snot's come up a couple times, now it makes sense, the talent show must have brought you within the radar of popular." She tried to explain to the guy who was always outside of it. "Yes, because the school punching bag going to a party facilitates a good thing for said bag." He driveled sarcastically. Astrid proceeded to punch him in the arm and he yelped. "Stop thinking that, anyway, I'm pretty sure people have been looking at you differently since the talent show, I think we should go, seems like it be fun, I suspect it starts at five, if I'm careful, my dad will probably suspect nothing."
Hiccup was once again confused before he realized the bell rang for the last period, and he hurried to math. Hopefully Felix could provide an explanation for the nonsense he just 'bumped' into.
After school, the entire band went back to Felix's for practice. The biggest difference however was Astrid kept trying to convince the group to go to the party, comparing it to the talent show. Hiccup was hugely reluctant, and Fish just didn't care, his school year was practically over as he knew the remainder of the year couldn't affect him, which is the only thing that prevented him from acting with a band in the first place. "I don't think we should, I mean it's Snot's house, and it was Tuff who asked us, last time I trusted him, I nearly fell out a window." But Astrid wasn't convinced. "If you're really scared," But Hiccup but in "I'm not scared, I just don't trust Tuff or Snot." But Astrid continued "Whatever...anyway, I'll just make sure you two don't embarrass yourselves or have someone mess with you, deal?" Hiccup sighed in defeat, much to Astrid's pride. "Fine, Fish, you fine with it?" Felix nodded. "I don't care either way." Hiccup then looked back to Astrid. "Alright, I guess we're in, but I'm not hang around, inside at least, I've had my experience with party crap like alcohol before, it's not something I'm trying again."
Astrid looked elated and they continued a practice. It was unanimously, yet unconsciously decided to avoid talking about actual cover practice until tomorrow. No one really cared though.
So hey guys, I hope that chapter didn't suck, I really tried, and found it both easy and hard to get going, sorry for the delay by the way, school was being weird and I had some stuff to do. I will however try to pump out two more chapters at least before Friday.
Also, I don't know if this is me doing my best or not, so I hope you guys like it.
Anyway, how'd you like the Hiccstrid interactions, I'm really trying to write a emotion that isn't Hiccup and Astrid in a relationship yet, that is to come later, not sure if this counts.
By the way I'm planning on pushing in more characters especially at that party, so be prepared for that, and I'm gonna try to beef up my chapter sizes, I hope you reach 3000 or 4000 averages soon, but for now I'm just trying to build up.
Anyway, those who wanted to see Tuff, you like his tease appearance :P, don't worry, (hopefully) hilarious maniac will appear most especially in the party. I might also try to do a chapter or so before the party, a kind of prelude chapter possibly.
Also, I have something to say on romance fics, specifically on their concept of love. First, let me say, 95% of them use lust, they are usually lustful relationships, and love relationships cannot exist alongside lust (though sometimes grows when lust fades in the relationship, though very few fics do that here). To describe love (specifically for the romance concept I suppose) it's more than just a body or personality thing, and isn't by itself just caring about someone. Love is more of complete sacrifice for the care of another person, good parent/child relationships are perfect examples of this. Also, love requires knowledge, wisdom, and care about the person, and what is right for them. (though without taking away their liberty) That is what love is, this means that the Romeo and Juliet love at first sight can't be possible, they didn't know each other, in fact they were enemies, the only thing that story would prove is lust is very strong, not once did they actually act as friends to one another, they just saw each other, was like "I love them" and then proceed to get really far with kisses. I would say a good example of a proper progress of love though is Wolfie-Dragon's Black as Night story (and oneshots), it follows the idea of caring friend to love interest between the two really well. The only thing I ask is that all stories about lust please don't use the world love when it is clearly wrong, same with stories of love. (though I'm pretty sure all stories I've seen with actual love gets it so accurate that they know the difference already) By the way, this helps a lot with writing good characters, people who obviously care (usually long time friends) and slowly grow to beyond friends is the usual way and it has been shown again and again that actual love does produce much better stories when done properly. (By the way of me stating that, does not mean I'm yet entering any romance territory here, [yet at the very least] I've just been frustrated with that issue when I scour FFN)
Ok, sorry for the wall of text, I was just unhappy when the FFN stories, and hope that at least a couple writers and don't make the same mistakes, and I hope they write better because of that.
Anyway, I really hope you liked this chapter, I really tried, and I'm actually slightly nervous with this one because I'm actually kind of entering new territory for me (though this story kind of does that a lot for me, but this and the next couple chapters are way more than usual) Anyway, I hope you liked this, and if so, fav and follow.
And smiley internet cookies for reviews, no matter if critical or not, as long as they aren't like mean. Until the next chapter.
Chapter Songs:
Walk - Pantera
Shepherd of Fire, Hail to the King, Doing Time - Avenged Sevenfold
Run to the Hills, The Trooper, The Number of the Beast, Fear of the Dark, Empire Of The Clouds - Iron Maiden
